• How is the market overall?
• Do I think we've bottomed out or do I foresee further deterioration?
• When did the current owner buy the property and for how much?
• What improvements/upgrades have been made?
• What is the township assessed and how does that relate to value?
• What is my estimate of value?

But in the post-Irene market, a new question has moved to the top of the list:
"Was the property impacted by Irene?  ...and if so, how?"

My recommendation to New Jersey Sellers is to take note - and to recognize and address seriously any water issues.  For those homeowners that ripped up carpeting, they could see for themselves that water "finds its way" and the path is often greater than the surface might foretell. For all of those that took decisive action, I would bet there are just as many - or more - that responded by sucking the moisture out of the air and carpet with a dehumidifier on overdrive and then dealing with the residual with cleaning supplies and paint. My recommendation is to recognize water as a serious intruder it is and deal with it completely to avoid future moisture issues such as rot or mold.

Soon we will forget Irene and move on to other worries.  But the concern of future storms will linger and the follow up question to "Was the property impacted by Irene? ...and if so, how?"  that begs to be asked - and answered - will come, and that will be "What did you do about it?"

My advice to New Jersey homeowners impacted by Irene is this - when it comes to the question "What did you do about it?" -  you want to have the right answer to that one!